Step 3 Predictor: NBME 6 & 7 Conversion Limits
Combine supported UWSA and sample-question inputs into an independent Step 3 planning estimate. Read current CCMSA diagnostic feedback directly from the official report.
Two-day exam
The current official format lists up to 232 items on Day 1 and up to 180 items plus 13 to 14 case simulations on Day 2.
Official software matters
USMLE tells examinees to run the current Step 3 interactive testing experience and become familiar with the CCS interface before test day.
Independent responsibility
Step 3 assesses knowledge and skills for assuming independent responsibility for general medical care, with an emphasis on patient management.
Run the Step 3 calculator
Pick Step 3 below, then enter your UWSA Step 3 and Free 120 scores. The calculator outputs a three-digit estimate with a transparent planning range.
Note: Step 3 data is sparser than Step 2 CK. Confidence intervals remain model-generated planning ranges, not a validated guarantee.
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Your practice exams
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A worked Step 3 example
These are illustrative inputs, not a real examinee or a validation result. The example uses the same model as the calculator, with 14 days until the exam.
| Practice test | Reported result | Taken |
|---|---|---|
| UWSA 2 Step 3 | 230 (3-digit score) | 7 days ago |
| Free 120 Step 3 | 75% correct | 5 days ago |
Model v1.4 produces a midpoint of 227 and a planning range of 217–237. This range is not a validated confidence interval. CCS performance is not an input. Read the source adjustments and range assumptions before interpreting the result.
How do you convert an NBME CCMSA score to a Step 3 score?
You cannot make a supported one-to-one conversion from the current CCMSA report to a Step 3 score. The report uses a 10-800 Assessment Score and explicitly says CCMSA is not intended to predict Step 3 performance. NBMEcalc therefore does not accept that number as a three-digit NBME input or publish a substitute conversion curve.
| Report item | Current report | Practical implication |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment Score | 10-800 scale | Do not enter it in a 1-300 CCSSA field. |
| Reference distribution | Mean 500; standard deviation 100 | This describes the CCMSA scale, not the Step 3 scale. |
| Official intended use | Identify strengths and weaknesses | NBME says CCMSA is not intended to predict Step 3 performance. |
| NBMEcalc handling | No CCMSA-to-Step 3 curve | The calculator accepts other supported Step 3 inputs instead. |
Verify these fields in the current official CCMSA sample score report.
NBME 6 and NBME 7 Step 3 score conversion
Searchers often ask for a single number for Form 6 or Form 7, but the current report does not provide a Step 3 prediction. NBMEcalc does not publish separate form curves, and it also does not assume the two forms have identical predictive behavior. Neither claim is supported by a public, reproducible calibration dataset.
Use the report's content-area feedback to identify strengths and weaknesses. If you also have a supported UWSA or sample-question result, enter that separately in the calculator above. For the differences among NBME report families, use the NBME score conversion guide. For context on how first-time Step 3 takers perform, see the official USMLE pass rates by Step, and check where a Step 3 score ranks with the Step 3 percentile, passing score, and average score page.
Why there is no CCMSA-to-Step 3 conversion table
A conversion table would need paired CCMSA and Step 3 outcomes, documented inclusion rules, enough observations across the score range, and out-of-sample error reporting. NBMEcalc does not have that paired data yet; the optional form below starts collecting it.
The absence of data supports a limit, not a numerical assumption. If a versioned, auditable calibration dataset becomes available, the model can be evaluated and this page can be revised with measured error. Until then, the useful answer is the score-scale distinction and the official report's stated purpose.
How to read a Step 3 model estimate
The calculator does not score CCS performance and does not replace official assessment feedback. Use these checks before acting on the displayed number.
Read the range
Treat the output as an estimated planning range. A single percentage is not a guarantee and has not been independently holdout-calibrated.
Check the source family
Use Step 3-specific evidence. CCMSA is the relevant NBME family, but its current report explicitly says it is diagnostic rather than a Step 3 prediction.
Separate MCQ and CCS preparation
The calculator does not ingest a scored CCS component. USMLE states that case-simulation performance affects the final Step 3 score, so practice the official interface separately.
Confirm the decision
Use current official score standards, your program's guidance, and the full evidence set for scheduling decisions. NBMEcalc does not prescribe a delay interval.
The CCS portion: what the official materials require
The current Step 3 format includes 13 to 14 computer-based case simulations. The software lets you enter orders, advance simulated time, and change the patient's location as the case evolves.
1. Learn the current interface. USMLE explicitly instructs examinees to run its interactive testing experience before test day; the live tutorial is less detailed.
2. Think in a changing timeline. CCS is dynamic: orders, results, treatment, monitoring, and advancing time alter what information appears and what should happen next.
3. Use case-specific feedback. The official sample cases explain actions that add to, subtract from, or do not affect performance for that scenario.
4. Avoid universal checklists. USMLE says the CCS database contains thousands of possible tests and treatments, so no fixed list of orders applies to every case.
Step 3 predictor FAQs
What is the Step 3 passing score?+
The current official minimum passing score is 200 for exams administered on or after January 1, 2024. USMLE will review the Step 3 passing standard at its November 2026 meeting, and any new standard would apply to exams taken on or after January 1, 2027. If you test in 2027, check the official scoring page before your exam.
Is Step 3 harder than Step 2 CK?+
The formats and assessed tasks differ, so there is no universal difficulty or score offset. Step 3 is a two-day exam that includes both multiple-choice items and computer-based case simulations.
How is CCS scored?+
USMLE states that case-simulation performance affects the Step 3 score and can affect pass/fail. The official CCS materials show that orders, timing, sequencing, location, treatment, and monitoring can affect performance; there is no universal checklist for every case.
How do I convert an NBME 6 score to a Step 3 score?+
There is no official one-to-one conversion. The current CCMSA report uses a 10-800 Assessment Score and states that CCMSA is not intended to predict Step 3 performance. NBMEcalc therefore does not convert a Form 6 score into an invented three-digit Step 3 midpoint.
Is the NBME 7 conversion different from NBME 6?+
NBMEcalc does not publish a conversion curve for either form. A lack of public form-specific calibration is not evidence that Forms 6 and 7 predict Step 3 identically; use the diagnostic feedback on each official report instead.
Which practice resources are predictive?+
No single practice resource guarantees a Step 3 result. NBME's current CCMSA report is diagnostic rather than predictive. If you use UWSA or sample-question results in NBMEcalc, treat the output as an independent planning estimate and compare it with your broader readiness evidence.
When should I take Step 3?+
Timing depends on eligibility, licensing or visa needs, program requirements, and readiness evidence. Confirm current eligibility and scheduling rules with USMLE and your program rather than relying on a universal training-year window.
Take the guesswork out of Step 3
Combine Step 3-specific inputs, review the full planning range, and confirm high-stakes decisions against official evidence.